Horseback rider&#39;s pad



Aug. 23, 1938. L. c. MORGAN HORSEBACK RIDERS PAD Original Filed July 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Aug. 23, 1938.

L. C. MORGAN HORSEBACK RIDER s PAD Original Filed July 29, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 23, 1938.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 29, 1936, Serial No. 93,257 Renewed July 13, 1938 1 Claim.

The invention relates to a horseback riders appliance or gadget and more especially to a horseback riders pad.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an appliance, gadget or pad of this character, wherein the same is constructed so that it may be worn upon the legs of a horseback rider to aid in a firm mount, particularly when riding a fractious horse so that the rider can retard being thrown or unmounted'and more especially when jumping or the horse becomes unmanageable through rearing and bucking. 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of an appliance, gadget or pad of this character, wherein the construction thereof involves a novel make-up and is readily and easily applied to and removed from a user and when worn will assure safety to a rider mounted upon a horse as it enables the said rider to be retained in the saddle without regard to activity of the horse, as for example, when making an attempt to jump or buck and thus eliminating injury to the rider.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an appliance or pad of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and effective in its operation, strong, durable, lending no discomfort to the user, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a horse and rider showing the appliance or pad constructed in accordance with the invention applied to the rider.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rider showing the appliance worn on both limbs Orlegs of the rider.

Figure 3 is a perspective view on a large scale of one of the units of the appliance.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the saddle attacking elements of the appliance or pad.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified form of one of the units of the appliance.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a further modification.

. Figure 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 8 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a saddle of the Western Association type provided with a skirt with which coacts the pad, gadget or appliance.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

, Referring to the drawings in detail, particularly Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, A designates generally one of the units of the appliance, it being understood that a pair of these is employed and worn by a rider B when astride upon a horse C. Each unit comprises a body I0, preferably made from flexible material yet having strength and durability, in this instance leather, and the same is of elongated formation having at opposite longer side edges spaced strap and buckle extensions II and I2, respectively, the latter being fitted with conventional buckles [3 while the extensions have fixed thereto the elastic portio-ns I l of adjustable straps l5 which are engageable with the buckles l3 for fastening of the unit A upon the leg of a wearer. The body of this unit when worn is disposed at the inner side of the leg above the knee between it and the hip or the crotch or in some instances over and extending below the knee of such wearer.

Fixed to the inner face of the body Ill and distributed throughout a major portion of the length thereof is a covering piece l6 for a group or plurality of headed spurs H, the heads l8 being confined between the body It and the said cover piece l6 while the shanks or pin portions protrude through suitable openings in the body ID the required distance beyond the outer face thereof so as to attack or bite into the skirt or fender I9 of a riding saddle 20 occupied by the rider B when astride upon the horse C. The purpose of these spurs I1 is to enable a rider by contracting his legs when mounted upon the animal and seated in the saddle 2|] to have the spurs l1 bite into the apron or fender IQ of the saddle 20 to resist being thrown from the animal should the same become fractious. In this fashion a rider is assured of a firm seat in the saddle 20 while riding the horse.

The buckles I3 and the straps l5 permit of proper adjustment of the unit A for fitting the same to a rider irrespective of the size of the latter.

At the lowermost end of the body I0 is a rounded ear portion 2| on the outer face of which is fixed a resilient abutment block 22 which engages with the skirt or fender IQ of such saddle or with its tree (not shown) to have the lowermost edge thereof abut said block 22 and this functions to hold the rider permanently seated in the saddle but does not interfere with the rise and fall of the body of such rider under usual riding conditions when the foot of the rider is engaged in the stirrup 23 of the saddle.

In Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings there is shown a modification wherein the body 24 of. the unit has fixed to its outer face a resilient with the skirt or fender IQ of the saddle when worn by the rider to enable such rider to be retained in the saddle. The section is made fast to the body 24 preferably by stitches 21 and this section extends for a major portion of the length of such body 24. g

In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings there is shown a further modification of the invention wherein the body 28 has suitably attached thereto vacuum cups 29, these being spaced from each other according to the requirements and each cup has a center button 30 engaged in a button hole 3| therefor in the body 28. The contact of these cups 29 with the skirt or fender IQ of the saddle enables a hold so that the rider can be retained in the saddle 20 when riding an animal. The appliance or pad including both units thereof may also be worn within the riding trousers or may be permanently attached thereto in the making of the same.

The basic purpose of the invention is to have the rider equipped at the inner sides of the legs when. riding a saddle with some form of friction means to engage with the skirt or fender of the said saddle so that the rider can firmly grip the saddle at that portion thereof against which pressure is exerted to retain his mount or be prevented from becoming thrown by the horse or other animal ridden.

In Figure 10 of the drawings there is shown a saddle 32 of the Western Association type, standard in kind, having the usual skirt 33 which drapes downwardly ateach side of said saddle and the lower edge of this skirt on each side of the saddle will engage the appliance, gadget or pad when a rider occupies. the saddle and in this manner a firm grip is assured on the saddle through the medium of the appliance, gadget or pad to retain position on the mount and be pre-- vented from becoming thrown by the horse or other animal ridden.

The abutment blocks 22, as previously indicated, will engage with the skirt 33 when the foot of the rider is in the stirrup while the'spurs I! of the appliance, gadget or pad will grip the forks of the saddle tree or the swell of the said forks.

What is claimed is:

A horseback riders pad comprising a body of a. size and shape for fitting the inner side of a leg of a wearer either above or' below the knee, protuberances at the outer face of said body for gripping engagement with a saddle skirt when contacting therewith, means for fastening such body to'the leg, and an'abutment formed on and outstanding from the lowermost edge of said body for engagement with the. edge adjacent thereto of the skirt of the saddle for aiding in retaining a rider seated: in the saddle.

LEE C. MORGAN. 

